Interactive Brokers vs Tickmill (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

Interactive Brokers

Trust rank #2 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 1977

Interactive Brokers is a well-regarded forex broker providing broad access to currency pairs, advanced trading platforms, and research and risk management tools. It supports multi-asset trading and a wide range of order…

Read the Interactive Brokers review

Tickmill

Trust rank #31 · Editorial rating 8.7 / 10 · Founded 2014

Tickmill is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker that provides broad market access, platform choice, and tools for analysis, education, and risk management. It offers account options and support suited to a…

Read the Tickmill review

Interactive Brokers (United States, founded 1977) holds 15 regulatory licences (ASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF…), 10 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. Tickmill (United Kingdom, founded 2014) holds 5 regulatory licences (CySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA), 1 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5 and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 214 countries; Interactive Brokers is available in 4 countries where Tickmill is not, and Tickmill in 14 where Interactive Brokers is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • Interactive Brokers leads on editorial rating, trust rank, track record, regulatory coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • Tickmill leads on platform choice and country coverage.
  • Level on instrument range and fee level.

Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

Interactive Brokers vs Tickmill: side-by-side data

CriteriaInteractive BrokersTickmill
Editorial rating10 / 108.7 / 10
Trust rank#2#31
Founded19772014
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
RegulatorsASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINRA, JFSA, MAS, MNB, NFA, SEBI, SEC, SFCCySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA
Broker typeDMAECN, STP
PlatformsProprietaryMT4, MT5
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted218 countries228 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingCopy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

Interactive Brokers

  • Transparent commission-based FX pricing with tight spreads
  • Aggregated multi-bank liquidity (IDEALPRO)
  • Professional platforms (TWS) and institutional APIs (FIX/REST)
  • Advanced risk management with real-time margin analytics
  • Universal multi-asset account for FX hedging and settlement

Tickmill

  • Tight spreads and low commissions
  • Fast NDD execution, low latency
  • FCA & CySEC regulation
  • MT4 and MT5 platforms
  • High leverage up to 1:500

Cons

Interactive Brokers

  • No MT4/MT5 support
  • Steep learning curve
  • Commission-based FX pricing
  • 25k IDEALPRO minimum order size
  • Limited funding methods

Tickmill

  • CFD-only; no real share or ETF investing
  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
  • Protections vary by entity; offshore regulation for many clients
  • No proprietary platform; MetaTrader-focused
  • Limited in-house research and education tools

Key features

Interactive Brokers

  • Agency model with direct market access to multiple liquidity providers
  • Spot forex and forex CFDs across major and minor pairs
  • Trader Workstation FXTrader with advanced order types and depth of market
  • Smart order routing and transparent interbank pricing with commissions
  • FIX and REST API support for algorithmic forex trading
  • Two factor authentication IB Key and top tier global regulation

Tickmill

  • Multi jurisdiction regulation FCA CySEC FSCA and FSA Seychelles
  • ECN no dealing desk execution with raw spreads and low commissions
  • MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 with VPS and FIX API
  • Multi asset CFDs Forex Indices Commodities Bonds and Cryptocurrencies
  • Negative balance protection and segregated client funds
  • Scalping hedging algorithmic and copy trading supported

Country availability: Interactive Brokers vs Tickmill

Available at both (214): Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and 174 more.

Only Interactive Brokers (4): India, Japan, Singapore, United States of America.

Only Tickmill (14): Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Iraq, Libya, Nauru, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

Interactive Brokers vs Tickmill: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, Interactive Brokers or Tickmill?

Interactive Brokers holds more regulatory licences: Interactive Brokers (ASIC, CBI, CFTC, CIRO, CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINRA, JFSA, MAS, MNB, NFA, SEBI, SEC, SFC) versus Tickmill (CySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA). Tier-1 licences: Interactive Brokers 10, Tickmill 1.

Which trading platforms do Interactive Brokers and Tickmill offer?

Interactive Brokers offers Proprietary; Tickmill offers MT4, MT5.

Which has lower fees, Interactive Brokers or Tickmill?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, Interactive Brokers or Tickmill?

Interactive Brokers is the older of the two, founded in 1977; Tickmill was founded in 2014.

Are Interactive Brokers and Tickmill available in the same countries?

They overlap in 214 countries. Interactive Brokers is additionally available in 4 countries (India, Japan, Singapore, United States of America) and Tickmill in 14 countries (Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Iraq, Libya and 8 more).

Keep comparing

Interactive Brokers

Tickmill

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.